{"id":2486,"date":"2020-02-27T13:27:58","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T12:27:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/life-peat-restore.eu\/en\/?p=2486"},"modified":"2020-02-29T18:23:58","modified_gmt":"2020-02-29T17:23:58","slug":"sahara-in-lithuania-what-does-this-peatland-have-in-common-with-the-desert-and-how-will-it-be-restored","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/life-peat-restore.eu\/en\/sahara-in-lithuania-what-does-this-peatland-have-in-common-with-the-desert-and-how-will-it-be-restored\/","title":{"rendered":"Sachara in Lithuania: What does this peatland have in common with the desert and how will it be restored?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you know that Madagascar, Switzerland and Sachara are in Lithuania? In fact, the first two sites represent the names of settlements, whereas peatland in North-Eastern Lithuania is named after the biggest desert in the world \u2013 Sachara. Unfortunately, these two sites have something in common. Both are suffering from the lack of water.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPeatlands must be wet: for the climate, for the people, for the future\u201d. These are the words of famous scientist and initiator of peatland restoration in Europe, professor at Greifswald University Prof. Dr. Hans Joosten. In order to preserve biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Lithuanian Fund for Nature is restoring peatlands damaged by drainage and peat mining. For this purpose, in February, restoration actions based on approved nature management plan in Sachara peatland were started. These actions include tree cutting and damming of drainage ditches. Peatland is being restored in cooperation with the State Forest Enterprise and the Directorate of Sartai and Gra\u017eut\u0117 Regional Parks.<\/p>\n

Sachara peatland is a valuable slowly recovering wildlife ecosystem in Roki\u0161kis district (North-Eastern Lithuania). Stories tell us about a fire in the nearby Panemun\u0117lis forest a century ago, which reached the peatland. The fire was burning even during the winter season. The wind was blowing ashes and dry peat just like sand. Thus, the local foresters named the area Sachara. This 88 ha site has been abandoned for more than 40 years. Over several decades, the peatland ecosystem has slowly begun to recover, but spontaneous self-regeneration process is disturbed by a network of still-functioning drainage systems. Despite long-term drainage and disturbance, the peatland is still able to maintain some natural values, including three types of habitats of EU importance. Moreover, based on the proposal of the Lithuanian Fund for Nature, the site has been included into NATURA 2000 network, in 2018.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The first works to remove woody vegetation have begun. Photo by Z. Sinkevi\u010dius.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Only shrubs are cut with brush cutters. Photo by Z. Sinkevi\u010dius.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All together 30 ha of forest (mainly birches and pines), which causes evapotranspiration of vital water and thus negatively effects the peatland, will be cleared. These actions are carried out by the Lithuanian Fund for Nature and the State Forest Enterprise (Roki\u0161kis subunit) under the Trilateral Cooperation Agreement. The implementation of the works is supervised by the Sartai and Gra\u017eut\u0117 Regional Park Directorate, which is responsible for the conservation status of Sachara peatland. Harvested timber will be removed from the peatland, but some of the \u201cwaste wood\u201c will be laid directly into drainage ditches and thus will serve as substrate for Sphagnum<\/em> moss colonization.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Part of the low-value wood is piled into the drainage ditches and will serve as a substrate for Sphagnum<\/em> moss colonization. Photo by Z. Sinkevi\u010dius.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

International and local experience shows that ditch blocking along with tree cutting is the best way not only to ensure stable water level, but to stop peat mineralization and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well. Moreover, these actions contribute to the improvement of habitats, particularly for the rare bird and insect species, which are closely depended on the open bog habitats.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Water level measurements (2017\u20132019) show that hydrological conditions in the Sachara are unfavourable for peatland formation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nature management actions have already begun. To improve hydrological conditions, three embankments with water outflow constructions and 200 dams (peat, plastic planks, mixed construction) will be installed. Ditch blocking will be performed by the company, which already has the experience in this kind of projects \u2013 \u201cAnyk\u0161\u010di\u0173 melioracija\u201d. Tree cuttings and ditch blocking is strictly performed only in the protected area. Therefore, landowners in the adjacent areas should not be afraid of possible negative impact.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Most of the ditches in Sahara peatland will be blocked with peat dams. This practice has been successfully implemented in P\u016bs\u010dia peatland.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Photo by L. Jara\u0161ius.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you know that Madagascar, Switzerland and Sachara are in Lithuania? In fact, the first two sites represent the names of settlements, whereas peatland in North-Eastern Lithuania is named after the biggest desert in the world \u2013 Sachara. Unfortunately, these two sites have something in common. Both are suffering from the lack of water. \u201cPeatlands … read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":2489,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nSachara in Lithuania: What does this peatland have in common with the desert and how will it be restored? - LIFE Peat Restore<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/life-peat-restore.eu\/en\/sahara-in-lithuania-what-does-this-peatland-have-in-common-with-the-desert-and-how-will-it-be-restored\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sachara in Lithuania: What does this peatland have in common with the desert and how will it be restored? - LIFE Peat Restore\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Do you know that Madagascar, Switzerland and Sachara are in Lithuania? 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